Positive Xeloda(R) Five-Year Overall Survival Study Data in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer Presented at Leading European Canc...( BARCELONA Spain Sept. 25 /- Five-...),Health

BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Five-year follow-up overall survival data from the X-ACT (Xeloda in Adjuvant Colon Cancer Trial) study show that oral chemotherapy Xeloda(R) (capecitabine) is as effective as the current standard treatment - intravenous bolus 5-FU/LV (5-fluorouracil/ leucovorin) - in the adjuvant treatment of Dukes' C colon cancer. These data were presented today at the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO) in Barcelona, Spain.

Results show five-year overall survival rates for Xeloda at 71.4 percent compared to 68.4 percent in the 5-FU/LV arm. Additional data presented at the meeting from a previous analysis show that Xeloda is also comparable to 5- FU/LV with respect to disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS).

"These updated five-year overall survival data provide further proof that Xeloda can be a safe and effective alternative to the current standard of care for adjuvant colorectal cancer, which can require upwards of 30 clinic visits over the 24-week treatment course," said Dr. Howard Burris of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, Tenn., and lead U.S. investigator in the study. "Based on this evidence, physicians - especially those who have relied on 5- FU/LV - should feel confident about exploring Xeloda as a treatment option with their patients who could benefit from the flexibility of oral chemotherapy."

Previous results from the X-ACT study also show that Xeloda is more cost- effective than the Mayo Clinic regimen (the current standard treatment) and is associated with fewer side effects. Additionally, many of the side effects can be easily managed by altering the dose without compromising efficacy.(1,2) In the same analysis, costs for medicines to treat side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, were cut by nearly 75 percent in the Xeloda arm compared to use of intravenous 5-FU/LV.

"We are pleased to see that Xeloda is standing up to its initial promise as an alternativ
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